HINDU GODS

September 19, 2009

Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya

Anjaneya has five faces (Pancha Mukha) and ten weapons. The five faces are that of Lord Hanuman, Lord Narasimha, Lord Adivaraha, Lord Hayagriva, and Lord Garuda.Panchamukha (alternatively Panchamukhi) is a word meaning 'five-faced'.Hanuman as "Sri Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami" (Anjaneya = "son of Anjani") is more famous in the South and some other parts of the world.1. Sri Varaha facing the North2. Sri Narasimha facing the South3. Sri Garuda facing the West4. Sri Hayagriva (a much earlier Avatar of Vishnu) facing the sky and5. His own (Hanuman) facing the East

The Vaishnavas evolved a syncretic form of Hanuman with five heads and ten arms, incorporating in the composite image five important Vaishnavite deities:At the center a monkey's face (Hanuman).A lion's visage representing Narasimha gazing southwards.An eagle's head symbolizing Garuda facing west.A boar head of Varaha (north).A horse's face for Hayagriva (facing the sky).1) The face of Hayagriva which is the face of horse, that represents the knowledge. Hayagriva is very famous to grant the knowledge. This represents the face of Brahma, who is representing the Veda or Knowledge.2) The face of Varaha. Lord Varaha represents Vishnu because He lifted the earth and maintained it on His mouth. Vishnu is famous for the maintenance.3) The face of Narasimha, which is the face of a lion that represents Lord Shiva. Narasimha destroyed the enemy against all the obstructing rules. Thus it represents the total destruction, which cannot be opposed by any force. These three heads represents Lord Datta.4) The fourth face is the face of Garuda. Garuda representsthe highest position in the devotees because none can fly to that height. He has the strength of the bull (Nandi) and tremendous velocity of the Swan. This shows that Garuda is again another form of Datta with three faces. The Swan represents the knowledge of discrimination because the swan separates the milk and water and thus represents Brahma. Garuda is always associated with Lord Vishnu and the mark on His forehead (Tilaka) indicates Vishnu. The bull represents tremendous power, which is Lord Shiva. Thus Garuda is another form of Lord Datta representing the service or path. Thus Anjaneyar represents Lord Datta along with His most powerful and faithful servant called Kalabhairava. In fact Garuda is another form of Kalabhairava. Thus Anjaneyar represents a total picture of the path and the goal.East facing Anjaneya to grant humanity Ishta Siddhi.South facing Karala Ugraveera Narasimha to grant humanity Abhista Siddhi.West facing Mahaveera Garuda to grant humanity Sakala Sowbhagya.North facing Lakshmi Varaha to grant humanity Dhana Prapthi.Urdhva Mukha {atop} being Hayagriva to grant humanity Sarva Vidya Jaya PrapthiHanumath Pancha Rathnam(Five gems on Hanuman By Adhi Sankara Bhagawat PadaTranslated by P.R.Ramachander.Veethakhila vishayecham, Jathanandaasru pulakamathyacham,Seethapathi dhoothakhyam ,Vathathmajamadhya bhavaye hrudhyam.1I think about the son of Vayu in my mind,Who is devoid of all desires of enjoyment,Who sheds copious tears of joy,Whose hair stands erect at His thought,And who is the great emissary of the Lord of SitaTharunaruna Muka kamalam , karuna rasa poora poorithapangam,Saajeevanamaasase manjula mahimana manjana Bhagyam.2All my life I yearn to see that Hanuman,Who is the good fortune of Anjana,Whose face is as red as the rising Sun,Whose glances are full of the mercy,Who brought back the dead in the battle,And whose fame is great.Sambhara vairi saradhigamambudala vipula lochanadhaaram,Kambu gala niladishtam bimba jwalithoshta mekamalambhe.3My only refuge is Hanuman,Who had reddish lips like the Bimba fruit,Who is the enemy of the arrows of Manmatha,Who has broad eyes like lotus leaves,And whose neck is like a conch.Dhoorikrutha seetharthi , prakati krutha rama vaibhava spohoorthi,Daritha dasa mukha keerthi, puratho mama bhathu Hanumatho Murthy.4Let the form of Hanuman ,Which drove away the sorrow of Sita,Which made known the prowess of Rama,And which destroyed the fame of ten headed Ravana,Shine before me.Vanara nikaradhyaksham, dhanava kula kumudha ravikara sadruksham,Dheena janavana dheeksham pavana paka ambuja madraksham.5I Saw Lord Hanuman,Who is the result of penance of God of wind,Who is the leader of all monkeys,Who is similar to the Sun God to water lily,To the hoards of Rakshasas,And who is he protector of the suffering humans.Ethath pavana suthasya stotram,Ya patathi pancha rathnakhyam,Chiramiha nikhilan bhogan bhukthwa,Sri Rama Bhakthiman Bhavathi.He who reads these five gems,Which are the poems of praise of,The son of God of wind,Would become a devotee of Lord Rama,And would enjoy his life for a long time.Sri Panchamukha Hanuman Dhyana Sloka